Common environmental container and building structure means



Jan. 31, 1967 S H 3,300,915

COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAINER AND BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS Filed April 30, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BEN E BRASCH 7% 5 17% ATTORNEYS Jan. 31, 1967 B. F. BRASCH 3,300,915

COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAINER AND BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS Filed April 30, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N T FIG 2 26 g i. l 5 ll 2 5 4} 1 l N E so B O LT l s INVENTOR. BEN E BRASCH E'a a 3% ATTORNEYS B- F. BRASCH Jan. 31, 1967 COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAINER AND BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 30, 1963 FIG. 4

FIG. 5

fso

FIG. 6

INVENTOR. BEN E BRASCH ATTORNEYS 5- F. BRASCH Jan. 31, 1967 COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAINER AND BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 30, 1963 INVENTOR. BEN E BRASCH W ATTORNEYS B. F. BRASCH Jan. 31, 1967 COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAINER AND BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS Filed April 30. 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.

INVENTOR. BEN E BRASCH a ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,300,915 COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAINER AND BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS Ben F. Brasch, 5207 Orchard Park Drive, Parma, Ohio 44129 Filed Apr. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 276,709 3 Claims. (CI. 52-73) This invention relates to common environmental container and building structure means which is adapted to facilitate economical and expedient handling of materials.

Heretofore, it has been the practice of processors, manufacturers, wholesalers and retail merchants to provide a building, equip it with shelving, upon which goods may be stored and displayed, and from time to time restock the shelves as the supply of goods diminishes. While this mode of operation has been satisfactory in the past, it has its shortcomings in modern business operations established on the theory of a high volume, rapid turnover and relatively low profit margin. The basic objection to the current operation lies in the distribution expenses. Direct production costs have severely diminished in recent years; however, the costs of distribution have remained somewhat fixed. Accordingly, companies are seeking cost savings in warehousing, as. well as taking a new look at the whole ponderous logistics of getting goods from the factory to the consumer.

More specifically, in merchandising operations presently known, it is necessary for the goods to be stored in warehouses, shipped to the retailer, stored in storerooms, or the like, until such time shelf space becomes available to display the product for consumer purchase. The labor involved in the single operation of getting the merchandise from the storeroom to the display shelves represents a significant handling cost, especially in the high volume operations. Further, it is necessary to provide shelter for the goods while'in storage, and additionally, it is usually necessary to discard the containers which hold the particular units of merchanise. The cost of these operations is eventually passed on to the ultimate consumer. Distribution costs, when examined, are quite expensive due to the sheer manual labor required to load and unload goods. The merchandise handling at the manufacturers clock, the wholesalers warehouse during shipment, and at the retail outlet has not progressed significantly to keep pace with modernized production. Reliable estimates indicate that distribution costs swallow about 20% of the nations total output of goods and service, with the costs being on the rise in recent years. Included in these costs are a significant expenditure for cartons alone. The cost of the carton, plus the labor and machinery required to prepare the goods for shipment, as well as the removal of the units from the carton at the various stages of the distribution cycle represent wasted effort and cost, and would be abandoned if a satisfactory solution could be found to eliminate them.

The deficiencies of the prior art are overcome by the instant invention. The goods can be arranged for selling when they are placed in the modular units provided at the factory and these containers can house them through shipment, storage and resale. When it becomes necessary to replenish a supply of goods at the receivers establishment, the container is coupled to a peripheral part of the building with the opening of one side positioned to cooperate with a predetermined opening in the building. Thus, the goods are available for further processing or consumer resale, having been untouched by humans from the time they left the factory. The capital expenditure involved in a system of this type is very low, since internal space is not required for storing or displaying goods. The

building is of relatively inexpensive construction, and in 3,300,915 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 "ice a preferred embodiment contemplates a roof supported by spaced columns with a slab type floor. Warehouse or stockroom space is eliminated since the units provide this function. The modular units provided serve to warehouse and/or display the goods, as well as serving as a shipping container when in transit. A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had on examination of the objects of the invention and the structure to fulfill the same.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a building and container system particularly adapted to the expedient and economical handling of materials.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a building system which utilizes detachable exterior containers in place of the internal storage functions provided by conventional buildings, thereby requiring minimum capital expenditure in the building unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a building system which is particularly adapted for storage and display of merchandise which will allow unimpeded activity of workers or customers even though continuous material handling is in progress.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a building system which is particularly adapted to a containerization type of handling to reduce the effort and costs of distributing of goods.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved method of material handling.

Further and fuller objects will become readily apparent when reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a building employing the present containerized system, with some of the units being in storage and one unit being moved into position by a fork truck;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation showing a fragmentary portion of the building with a container being moved into position by a fork lift truck;

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2 with the roof removed to show a container being moved into coupling position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing a different method of installing the containers;

FIG. 5 is a view partly in cross-section showing the container in position with support means and sealing means in insure weather tightness;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a modified form of connecting means and sealing means at the junction between the container and the building;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the details of the connection and sealing means of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a phantom view of a modified form of container shown schematically to illustrate the utilities;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of con-tainer which is provided with a removable top portion enabling it to be used as a pallet;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged top view of the container 15 shown in FIG. 1, with the columns shown in cross-section; FIG. 11 is a view taken along the lines 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a modified form of construction with the building shown fragmentarily; and

FIG. 13 is a modified form of construction illustrating the use with a portable building.

The plan view illustrated in FIG. 1 at 10 comprises a closed area 11, which area is delimited by a plurality of upstanding columns 12. The columns 12 are spaced along the sides to form a plurality of bays or openings 13. Under some circumstances, they may be equally spaced where the containers are of uniform dimension. Containerized units 14 are received exteriorly of the columns and cover the bays 13. .Adouble container unit 15 covers two bays with a center guide 16 in (the middle of the container to assist in proper positioning of the contrainer. The container 15 has frame structure portion means defining an environmental opening which may be provided with a door or removable panel 15 to facilitate loading and/or entry from the exterior. The containers 14 illustrated may be provided with an L-shaped notch 100 to facilitate interlocking in shipment and storage, as shown at 101 and 162. The specific construction of the container will be described more fully when description of the succeeding figures is given. The area 11 is provided with doors 17 and 18 to facilitate ingress and egress to the building. A suitable closure, such as that indicated at 19, may be provided to cover each bay or environmental opening of the wall portion means of the building when the co-operating container is absent therefrom. A truck 20 is shown as moving a container 14 into position to be attached to the bay covered by the door 19.

Rearwardly of the building an area 21 may be provided to store containers which are filled with merchandise, or those from which the supply has been depleted.

It is further contemplated that certain facilities such as check out facilities, packaging, sub-leased concessions, heating and air conditioning units, production machinery and the like, might also be housed in container-like units which could be attached to the building structure at the desired location. This would provide a building with great layout flexibility and variable traflic patterns.

A more complete understanding of the mode of operation may be had when a description of the handling and connection of the containers is given. As seen in FIG. 2, the column 12 rests in or on a concrete pad 22. The upper end of the column supports a roof structure 23 which in the present instance is shown as being peaked, however, a flat-deck gravel roof or the equivalent may be substituted.

A fragmentary portion of the forked truck 20 is shown having the forks 20' supporting the container 14. The column 12 supports upwardly opening hooks 24 which have threaded bolts 25 to adjust them angularly about the pivot 26. This construction enables the container to be moved vertically so that the floor of the container can be aligned with the floor of the building, once the hooks are engaged with the stub shafts 27 carried by the container. An additional locking means is carried by the -lower part of container 14. A handle 29 operates a pivotable hook 28 adapted to engage a fixed stub shaft I 30 carried by the column. Of course, the relationship of the two lock parts could be reversed or attached to different parts of the container and/or structure without changing the basic function of the locking means. A more complete description of this will be given when reference is made to FIG. 7.

A modified form of connecting and support means is shown in FIG. 4. A container 31 is equipped with an eye 32 centrally of the container so that it may be lifted by means of a hook carrying boom 33. The boom may be mounted on the building, or on a mobile unit as desired. The container 31 is received in abutting relation to the column 12 and secured thereto by angularly disposed flanges 34 on the container which fit in co-operating tapered brackets 35. The angular relationship of the flanges 34 and the co-opera-ting brackets 35 serves to draw the container to the building as it is lowered into position. Suitable pads 36 may be provided on the bottom of the container for load support, as well as to accommodate lifting by the forked truck if desired.

A guide rail 37 is shown as being fastened on the in side of the column 12 and extending along the lower side of the roof joists. The track 37 is intended to accommodate a suitable closure, such as an overhead section door or swinging door, to close off the opening when the container is removed.

A modified form of container 40 is shown in FIG. 5 having a pair of wheels 41 at the rearward portion. The front portion of the container rests on a support means 42 which is equipped with -a seal means 43 to insure weather tightness at the joint. The roof supporting beam 44 is notched'so as to provide a stop surface 45 to limit the insertion of the container.- Suitable seal means 46 and 47 may be provided to insure weather tight joint.

A wheeled cart 48 may be stored in the central portion of the container 40 during shipment and upon being moved into position the wheeled cart 48 bearing goods may be rolled into the central area 11 of the building 10 to provide an additional material handling unit.

A modified form of the container is shown in FIG. 6 having a crank 50 which operates a pivoting hook 51 by rotating threaded .rod 52. Rotation of the crank causes the hook 51 to pivot into engagement with a stub shaft 53 carried by the column 12. A modified form of seal means is carried by the pivoted, L-shaped member 54 which engages the horizontal and vertical surfaces on the container. An upstanding lip 56 may be provided on the forward portion of the container 60 to prevent moisture from seeping under the seal and draining inwardly to the environmental opening of the wall portion means. The overhang of the roof 57 prevents the direct impinging of moisture on the joint. An inclined plane support means 58 cooperates with the wheels 59 so that the force of gravity tends to move the container 60"into tight abutting relationship with the column 12. A guide pin 61 is provided on the lower part of the container to engage a-suitable recess 62 in the column to insure accurate alignment with the bay.

A more detailed analysis of the attaching features ma} be had by reference to FIG. 7 which is an enlarged view of the hook about to engage the stub shaft 53 carried by the column 12. This type of book may be actuated either by the crank 50 or by the pivoting lever 29 which is shown in FIG. 2. Suitable locking means may be provided on the lever or the crank, so that once installed the container will be tamper-proof from the exterior. The L-shaped member 54 may be provided with elastomeric pads 63 and 64 to fluid-tightly engage the container on vertical and horizontal surfaces. A suitable cushion 65 may be interposed between the column and the container to prevent damage when the two are moved into position and also to insure weather tightness about the edges. This cushion may be either on the wall (FIGS. 2 and 3) or on the container (FIGS. 4 and 6). It is obvious that the internal construction of the containers may vary, being equipped with shelving or any other suitable means to hold the cargo during shipment, storage and distribution.

The joint betweenthe container can be external to the building as shown in FIG. 4, surface to surface as shown in FIG. 6, or internal to the building as shown in FIG. 5. The sealing means shown in FIG. 5 is tubular in cross section and may be inflated to provide a tighter seal between the building and the container.

It is also contemplated that perishable items will be shipped and distributed by the means and method disclosed by the present invention. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to provide a controlled temperature within the container. As seen in FIG. 8, a refrigeration coil is shown generally at 66 which may be within the container. The quick connect fittings 67 and 68 may beprovided, in order to facilitate connection to existing refrigeration systems while in transit and storage. Similarly, heat ducts 69 may be provided where goods are susceptible to damage by way of freezing. 7

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified form of container which permits removal of the top and sides so that it may be used as a pallet. Also illustrated is one'method of attaching the door thereto. The container 70 would have a. door 71 equipped with I-bolt or hook 72 whichwould engage inwardly projecting shaft'73. A lower joint would be formed by an L-shaped hook member 74 engaging a recess 75 in the base of the container to facilitate 'r'errioval. It is obvious that any suitable form of sliding, swinging or detachable door may be utilized, as long as it is Weather tight and tamper-resistant.

The container may also be provided with interior lighting, such as that indicated at 76, with a suitable connecting plug 77 to be joined to a source of power. Obviously, the power and utility connections could be provided on the door side of the container to mate with a co-operating fitting fixed on the building.

One side of the container, for example, could be provided with a display case indicated generally at 80. The display case is formed by a back panel member 81 and is provided with a transparent member 82 coextensive with the face of'the container. This would allow advertising or display of goods during shipment and storage. Suitable illuminating means 83 may be provided with a plug or jack to connect it to a source of power. In the container shown in FIG. 9, heat duct 84 may be provided in the wall of the container if desirable or necessary. The display back 81 could be omitted if it were desirable to admit natural light to the container.

The container shown at 15 in FIG. 1 is shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. and 11. The double container is particularly suitable for goods having a high bulk to weight ratio. Multiple containers which extend past several bays are also anticipated.

The container has a pair of doors 9! and 91 which are slightly less in dimension than the co-operating bay openings. As shown in FIG. 11, the doors 90 and 91 are secured at the top to a central support shaft 92 which extends from the ends to be received in the support bracket carried by the column. Sliding locks 93 and 94 securethe door panels 91 and 92 in place and prevent unauthorized removal. The rear portion of the container is shown as being supported by Wheels 95, however, skids or other forms of support means extending outwardly of the exterior building will suifice.

The central portion of the container 15 is provided with a recessed portion 16 to guidingly receive the bracket on the center column. This aids in positioning the container, as Well as assisting in supporting the load when attached to the building.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIG. 12, embodying a building shown at 110 fragmentarily having the usual roof 111 and side wall 112. The side wall 112 is provided with an opening adapted to receive a container 113, a pair of sliding panels 114 and 115 may be moved into engagement with the edge of the container after it is once installed. This provides flexibility in the size of the opening, allowing it to receive containers of varying size. Although a single opening is shown, it is obvious that any number of openings may be provided. The container may be hooked to the building in a fashion similar to those described in connection with FIG. 1. Alternatively, it may be received with the open side on a support means and a sliding door or seal around the upper edge. Suitable seals may be interposed between the doors 114 and 115.

A further modification is shown in FIG. 13 relating to a portable building. A series of frames 120 may be joined together by bolts or other suitable means to define an enclosed area. The roof 121 is supported by the series of frames 120. Each of the frames may be provided with openings 122 to receive containers such as those shown at 123. The portable construction provides a very flexible supply center for use as a ware-house and office for construction sites. Obviously, it provides economical storage, which will be sheltered at all times, as well as being pilfer-proof, obviating a problem of major concern in the industry. Obviously, the building may be modified to take on varied forms and shapes, as was described in connection with FIG. 1. The use of containerized delivery, storage and dispensing reduces the cost of material handling as well as providing substantial other benefits obvious to those skilled in the art.

The various features explained in conjunction with the container may be interchanged, combined, added, or left out, to suit the necessities of the parties utilizing such a system. Moreover, the modifications are but a few that may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. A better understanding of the utility of the instant device may be had by describing the systems used in conjunction with the distribution of goods.

The containers would be packed with consumer goods at the factory and shipped by rail, truck, or water to the retail outlet. The building could be of any configuration such as L, H, U, T, single story, multiple story, or the like, as well as being built in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Existing buildings could be modified to adapt them to the present system. Assuming the present supply of the goods was not exhausted, the containers would serve as storage units and would be stored in a suitable area provided, such as at 21. When a new supply of goods was required in the store, a single man operating a forklift truck would remove the empty container and replace it with a filled container from the storage area. Upon coupling to the building, the closure 19 between the columns or bays 13 would be opened, as would the door provided on the co-operating portion of the container. As shoppers walked through the central area 11, they could walk directly into the container and select a unit or units for purchase, as the case may be. It must be appreciated at this point, that the units offered for sale have not been handled as individual units since they were originally packaged. Thus, manual stocking of shelves is completely eliminated. The handling of individual units in unloading from trucks, railroad cars, and the like, has also been eliminated on a per unit basis, since the containers holding a plurality of units may be handled by mechanized means, such as a forked truck, crane, or equivalent.

The building shown in conjunction with the material handling set up may be of the simplest and most economical construction. The construction may be of permanent, semi-permanent, or portable design. The expense of interior fixtures of a store is greatly reduced by the present system. Further, greater merchandise control may be had by the present unitized system. The containers would be weather tight and therefore suitable for storing goods against the elements, thus permitting shipment on open bed fiat cars, open bed trucks, or as deck cargo on ships, barges, or the like. Further, this eliminates the necessity of providing a storeroom while the goods are awaiting further processing.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a few concrete embodiments, such is done only in the interest of a complete description. For example, it is obvious that the above described construction could be used as a warehouse, portable shop for construction sites or as a highlyfiexible production assembly line. It is not intended that this nor the terminology employed in describing it be limiting inasmuch as it is intended that the scope of the invention be ascertained by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Common environmental container structure means and building structure means wherein said container structure means is adapted to be removably coupled to said building structure means for providing a common environmental enclosure, said building structure means defining an environmental building enclosure and having at least exterior wall portion means defining an environmental opening, said container structure means having at least frame structure portion means defining an environmental opening, guide means including first and second registering engageable parts for directing said container structure means to move in a direction to substantially align said environmental opening of said container structure means with said environmentalopening of said building structure means With said container structure means extending outwardly away from said exterior wall portion means, said first part of said guide means being engageable with said second part of said guide means upon movement of said container structure means toward said building structure means and being efiective to align said environmental openings in face-to-face relationship with each other prior to coupling engagement of said frame structure portion means with said exterior Wall portion means, environmental coupling means including at least first and second readily disconnectable parts or environmentally coupling said frame structure portion means with said exterior wall portion means to provide a common environmental enclosure, and support means extending outwardly away firom said exterior 'wall portion means and engageable with said container structure means for supporting same with said environmental opening thereof in face-to-face relationship with said environmental opening in said exterior wall portion means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said guide means includes propelling cam means and propelled cam means, one of said cam means being provided on said building structure means and the other of said cam means being provided on said container structure means.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first readily disoonnectable part is provided on said building structure means and said second readily disconnectable part is provided on said container structure means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,154,897 4/1939 Grout 5279 2,247,340 6/ 1941 Webster 5279 2,499,498 3/1950 Hammond 5279 2,555,782 6/ 1951 Brownstein 2482I21 2,660,327 11/1953 Blatz 214651 2,840,866 7/ 1958 Paulsen 5279 3,063,586 11/1962 Appleman 214-302 3,101,486 8/1963 Tiller 5273 3,200,978 8/1965 Brody et a1. 2'14-651 FOREIGN PATENTS 927,895 1947 France. 865,800 1953 Germany.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. COOKE, Examiner.

R. A. STENZEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAINER STRUCTURE MEANS AND BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS WHEREIN SAID CONTAINER STRUCTURE MEANS IS ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY COUPLED TO SAID BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS FOR PROVIDING A COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL ENCLOSURE, SAID BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS DEFINING AN ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING ENCLOSURE AND HAVING AT LEAST EXTERIOR WALL PORTION MEANS DEFINING AN ENVIRONMENTAL OPENING, SAID CONTAINER STRUCTURE MEANS HAVING AT LEAST FRAME STRUCTURE PORTION MEANS DEFINING AN ENVIRONMENTAL OPENING, GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND REGISTERING ENGABEABLE PARTS FOR DIRECTING SAID CONTAINER STRUCTURE MEANS TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION TO SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGN SAID ENVIROMENT OPENING OF SAID CONTAINER STRUCTURE MEANS WITH SAID ENVIRONMENTAL OPENING OF SAID BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS WITH SAID CONTAINER STRUCTURE MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID EXTERIOR WALL PORTION MEANS, SAID FIRST PART OF SAID GUIDE MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SECOND PART OF SAID GUIDE MEANS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTAINER STRUCTURE MEANS TOWARD SAID BUILDING STRUCTURE MEANS AND BEING EFFECTIVE TO ALIGN SAID ENVIRONMENTAL OPENINGS IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER PRIOR TO COUPLING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE PORTION MEANS WITH SAID EXTERIOR WALL PORTION MEANS, ENVIRONMENTAL COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST FIRST AND SECOND READILY DISCONNECTABLE PARTS FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY COUPLING SAID FRAME STRUCTURE PORTION MEANS WITH SAID EXTERIOR WALL PORTION MEANS TO PROVIDE A COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL ENCLOSURE, AND SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID EXTERIOR WALL PORTION MEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CONTAINER STRUCTURE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAME WITH SAID ENVIRONMENT OPENING THEREOF IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID ENVIRONMENT OPENING IN SAID EXTERIOR WALL PORTION MEANS. 